Hi friends.
I ask for prayers today for my boss and sweet, sweet friend Lynn. Her husband of many, many years and best friend, Paul, died this weekend of a heart attack. Lynn was on Young Life assignment in Colorado, and one of her sons, PJ, was on assignment in Alaska. He just graduated high school in the Spring. Their other son, John, was the one who found Paul I think, although that's coming to me secondhand.
Please be in prayer for them as they deal with this unexpected and sad reality. Please pray that they will feel the arms of Jesus holding them tight and will lean on his unwavering faithfulness.
Paul IS an amazing person... full of life and jokes and stories. Matt and I always joked that EVERYBODY knows Paul. Whenever I would mention that I worked for Young Life, it was inevitable that the next question was, "Oh, so you know Paul?" What I loved about him so much was that he always said what was on his mind... no beating around the bush. I joked that obviously Lynn liked that quality in people since she married Paul and hired me. :) I only met him for the first time in December and then spent time with him on a couple occasions after that, but we talked on the phone most every day from October to February when he would call the office.
Actually, Paul has been one of Jonah's greatest prayer warriors, calling friends to pray and putting us on different prayer lists. I know he prayed for Jonah all the time, and always reminded me he was praying. He gave Jonah one of his first nicknames long before he was born, always asking me how "Cletus the Fetus" was doing. I hold these things very close to my heart, and think of Paul now petitioning the Father on Jonah's behalf IN PERSON.
He loves Lynn so much, and I would consider theirs a role-model marriage. He gave so much time to Young Life and was so passionate about leading kids to Jesus and starting up Young Life in new areas.
We'll all miss you so much, Paul, but we know that you are now where you've always wanted most to be. See you soon!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
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17 comments:
Patrice,
I do not usually comment on your blog, but have loved watching your sweet Jonah grow up and our family has prayed for him since he was a few days old. I heard from some of my friends that Paul had passed away (I went to Wake and had A LOT of friends who worked with YL) and I thought of you immediately as I knew you would have known him and Lynn well. My thoughts are with you and with their family. But, as someone stated on FB, "he's home" & I know as Christians we certainly find comfort in that promise. Love to you & your family.
Patrice,
Paul is actually the reason that we found out about you guys. He called us the night Jonah was born as he was on his way to the hospital so that we could pray for you guys. We love them dearly. Thanks for this sweet post.
I was very involved in YL in High School..I even went to camp in Co. at Frontier Ranch! I didn't know Paul but I'm sure he was an awesome guy!! I pray for comfort for his family and friends...it's so hard to understand sometimes why people leave this Earth too soon..Jesus needed Paul with Him. Prayers and blessings~erin from Ga.
I am on YL committee in another area in NC. Paul and Lynn spoke at our banquet this year. I also attended a seminar he conducted at our training this year in Raleigh. That is enough for me to know that he was an amazing man who loved Jesus and YL! Praying for Lynn, their boys, and his extended YL family. A.Boyd asked for prayer for Jonah when he was born and I have been following your blog ever since. Jonah is precious!
my son was on summer staff at frontier first session this summer. we had the pleasure of being adult guests there a few weeks ago. it's been a tough summer for frontier (they have had a huge outbreak of the swine flu and have had to quarrentine/send home many staffers and campers). was paul serving at frontier? he sounds like an amazing man and one who truly lied for hte Lord. it's good to know you'll meet up again, one day.
what a sweet post.
I am so sad for some reason I can not see your blog only the background :(
I miss seeing Jonah's cute little face!!!
Mindy
min_sch.1994@yahoo.com
What an amazing blessing to know him and have him impact your life (as well as Jonah's and Matt's) in the way that he did.
Kimberly
WI
I don't know either you or Paul or Jonah, but to know that he's with the Father cheering you on should give you comfort when you feel challenged. We serve a God who is totally in charge of our lives. He loves Paul so much that he brought him home. And like you said, petitioning God in person, for Jonah. Praise our ever loving Lord and Savior. Praise the name of Jesus forever and ever.
I'm so sorry to read about your friend's husband. How tragic. I'll lift up his wife, kids and all who loved him in prayer.
Praying for your boss today! May God's peace be with her at this time of great loss!
Hi Patrice-
My prayers are with Lynn and the rest of Paul's family. (And as always, my prayers are with Jonah!)
Love,
Laura
i am so sorry to hear this news. what wonderful memories you have shared of a very special person in your life. he is now with jesus and i am sure you are right and he is talking, in person, about jonah to great healer. i will keep paul's family in my prayers as they move through this unfortunate season of their life.
--blessings, mari
I just stumbled onto another EB blog, not sure if you've seen it already but here's the link in case: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/keric
Keric has RDEB, different from Jonah but he's had good results from a bone marrow transplant, maybe that's an option for Jonut in the future? Good to see some treatments are coming along and I'm sure you'll enjoy Keric's blog and seeing a happy 6 year old dealing with this disease! Maybe a little glimpse of the future for you.
When you said - "everyone knows Paul..."
I thought...do I ? and then I realized - they were the YL leaders when I was in high school - of course I know Paul...
and lynn...
I am so sorry...
is there a way to send a note to them?
clarksonstudios,
Yes, you can send them a note to their home address:
Lynn, John and PJ Barclay
271 Flintshire Road
Winston-Salem, NC 27104
Patrice, thanks for your sweet words about Paul. Hearing how he spread the word about Jonah so as many people as possible could pray came as no surprise to me. I don't never that I ever met someone who was so committed to prayer. And "cletus the fetus", that is just so classic Paul :)
Will you be able to go to the service on Thursday?
Prayers for your friends. Life is so short and it seems that Paul did many great things during his time here!
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